“You have done us all a great service this night,” was what he told the boys as he squeezed their hands. “We are always prepared for trouble, but ‘forewarned is forearmed,’ you know, and on this account the notice you have brought may save many precious lives. I shall be sure to see you later on, if alive, and anything I may be able to do for you, that you can command of me.”
With that he turned and left them. Doubtless he had duties himself to perform, and did not believe in leaving every detail to subordinates. These soldiers from the islands of the sea and across the broad Atlantic were more inclined to follow the French methods of kindly treating their men than to follow the austere German or British plan. They were on good terms with every private in the ranks, and there was a certain degree of familiarity between officers and men that bound them closer together.
CHAPTER XXIV.
AN ATTACK THAT FAILED.
Left to themselves, the two boys sought a place where they could make themselves comfortable. The camp stools looked inviting, but cautious Jack shook his head when Amos proposed occupying them.
“I think we can find a safer place than that,” he remarked. “Just as like as not some Turkish spies have had a look-in at this camp, and marked the position of the General’s headquarters. If they have any guns along they’ll be apt to hurl a few shells around here, and it wouldn’t pay us to take the chances.”
“Whew! I never thought of that,” admitted Amos, always ready to agree with his chum.
Wandering around the almost deserted camp, they presently selected a location where they might see something of what was going on. They could easily understand that the position taken by the Territorials had been made as impregnable as the conditions allowed. No doubt there were trenches and barricades behind which the troops could work their many rapid-fire guns, and their repeating rifles as well. Being born marksmen, they would take frightful toll of the Turks when they advanced to the attack in their customary solid formations, urged on by German officers, who from the rear would threaten to sabre or shoot anyone daring to turn back.
All seemed silent save for the sound of the sea fretting along the shore. Amos could hardly believe that right then and there hundreds upon hundreds of Allied troops were getting in position to man the defences of the camp; and that some thousands of ferocious Mussulman fighters were creeping along not so very far away with the avowed intention of rushing the works after the manner of reckless fighters, careless of their lives.
Amos had not forgotten the main reason for his being there in the camp of the gallant New Zealanders. As he sat there and glanced this way and that, trying to make things out in the uncertain light, he was wondering just where the little level plateau lay from which the bold aviator took his flights, and landed again after he had sufficiently harassed the enemy.